After the autumn monsoon ended, the heat eased, and cool days continued.
In the van moving to his next schedule, Kang Yeonhoo rubbed his forehead with his palm while staring at his phone.
[Title: PD Kim’s new variety show is hilarious
Let’s Go on a School Trip
↑ I laughed my ass off watching it
The first lineup was LV Entertainment, so I figured they really spent money this time.
And honestly, I had felt back in Victory Is Mine that White Cherry was a little unusual hahahaha but wow, they turned out to be even bigger variety gems than expected.
PD Kim: What do you usually do in your free time?
Liz: I focus only on our activities!
Cherry: (muttering) IRIX...
PD Kim: What are you most interested in these days?
Liz: Hmm, lately I’ve been watching old performances. To recapture our rookie spirit with ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ my members, I’m trying to work hard.
Woobin: (muttering) Ranked game...
Liz: (you’re dead)
Liz is usually cold to her members but suddenly shy in front of Yoo Jia, it was so cute.
Liz: Jia-unnie... I watched your last drama, it was really good.
Yoo Jia: Wow~, really? I listen to your songs a lot while driving too~.
Liz: (face red) I listen to your songs a lot too...
Cherry: Oh my gosh~!
Han Cherry was gorgeous since debut, but she always seemed a little crazy. Now with more experience, she’s flying.
└Liz is calm but suddenly shy in front of Yoo Jia.
└└She’s famous for liking Yoo Jia lolol
└White Cherry looks pure, but why are they so rowdy? Woobin snaps at Cherry all the time, but acts shy with staff, it’s cute.
└Heard all of White Cherry are game addicts... they treat anything under Plat as trash.
└└...Han Cherry, just how perfect is she planning to get?]
[Title: I think I fell in love with PD Kim Heeyoung
I thought she’d be strict since she usually does survival shows, but she was surprisingly gentle. The whole broadcast felt warm and fuzzy, really good.
No competition structure, everyone looked so happy, it was adorable T_T
└Look at her happily yelling “Ding!” at the front.
└When she took off her mask I was shocked, such a soft, pretty face...
└└But apparently she’s a heavy smoker LOL
└└Fuck, don’t make me love her more.
└Unnie, sorry I cursed you so much during Shining Star... I was high on some trashy guy back then...]
The new program had been getting rave reviews.
Yeonhoo scrolled down again, refreshed the feed.
[Title: WH is appearing on Let’s Go on a School Trip?
Are they insane]
‘Here it comes.’
The cozy atmosphere was gone. The mood flipped.
Yeonhoo sighed lightly at the backlash he had already expected.
WH Entertainment’s moves lately were drastically different. Once very closed-off, after acquiring Daepaseong, they had shifted aggressively.
Even deciding to put all their artists on a massive variety show—something they’d never have allowed before—was proof.
[Title: The Dawn, Black Call, Hi-Five, Min Jiheon
LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Just stringing the names together is insane.
└The fangirls are going to flood in ^^
└Now? At this timing? With awards season just months away????
└└I actually love it T_T watching idols just play around is so cute... but with all the “look at his eyes, his gestures” interpretations, I’ll just cut SNS and watch raw clips nonstop T_T]
[Title: Black Call is the winner
The gap in class is so wide no one even competes with them.
└What bullshit, K-pop stans drag Black Call every damn day.
└Black Call hasn’t had a comeback in a year and a half.
└└Yeah but they’re still... fucking huge.
└└Right LOL they’re all so experienced that even their mannerisms are relaxed.
└└Whenever Joo Woosung shows seniority, holy shit it’s so sexy T_T]
[Title: Seeing everyone so fired up over one variety show...
This proves the Daesang competition is set LOLOL
The Dawn vs Hi-Five
└My vote’s on The Dawn...
└Personally I’m for Hi-Five LOOOL they get flamed for being “the true heirs,” but idols who treat their fans this well are rare T_T when I think of all Yeonhoo’s gone through I cry
└└Are you even a Hi-Five fan?
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└└If you say that, my rebel bones make me want to support The Dawn.
└└Then my rebel bones say Hi-Five. You always supported The Dawn, don’t hide behind rebellion.
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└Honestly, this much activity on a tiny site is rare.
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└Seriously, why even post this? To spark fanwars?]
Yeonhoo turned off his phone there.
‘What a mess.’
He was struggling too.
If they didn’t win Daesang, people would sneer that even after leeching off their seniors’ money, they couldn’t beat a mid-tier group. If they did win, they’d still be judged, put on trial for whether they deserved it.
‘...Still, I want to win. No—I have to.’
No matter how loved he was, in the company’s eyes he was a product, a consumable.
Time wasn’t on Hi-Five’s side. If they missed this chance, maybe the company wouldn’t back them anymore.
He didn’t want to be forgotten, to vanish into the background.
The reason Kang Yeonhoo had endured endless trainee years wasn’t just stubborn patience. His goals were clear, his ambition burning high.
Feeling choked, he buried his face in his hands, rubbing hard, when the road manager’s voice came.
“Yeonhoo-ssi, we’ve arrived at the set.”
“...Ah, thank you.”
He composed his expression. By the time he stepped out of the van, he was back to being the Kang Yeonhoo everyone knew.
Greeting both familiar and unfamiliar faces with a warm smile, he said,
“Hello.”
“Oh, Yeonhoo-ssi. Hello.”
“It’s been a while, audio director.”
Inside the auditorium on the amusement park’s edge, staff bustled with preparations.
They had rented the park for the evening, but hurriedly arranged to use the auditorium by day as well.
“Oh.”
At that moment, he locked eyes with the program’s main PD—Kim Heeyoung.
“You’re quite early, Yeonhoo-ssi.”
“I didn’t come too early, did I?”
“Better than being late.”
Blowing at her long bangs, she added casually, like she didn’t care.
“You must be tired with how busy you’ve been?”
Clearly just polite chatter.
But even so, Yeonhoo didn’t dislike her tone.
‘Looks like she’s happier these days.’
She still looked weary, but compared to the end of Shining Star S2, much improved. Back then her brow was always furrowed, her mood sharp, and everyone avoided her.
He still remembered how, when it ended, she shook hands with each idol.
“Yeonhoo-ssi, thank you for making our program shine.”
She had said that to each and every one of them.
Remembering it, Yeonhoo replied sincerely.
“Being busy is good. You must be in demand too, PD-nim.”
“Wow, your tongue’s gotten smoother.”
After a few more words, Yeonhoo headed to the waiting area she pointed out.
There, lined with chairs, someone had already claimed a seat.
“Hello.”
In ivory knit, black slacks to the ankle, and neat Oxfords, his hair glowed ash-brown under the autumn sun from the window.
“...Hello.”
“......”
When no reply came, Yeonhoo greeted again, and only then did the man raise his head, scanning him up and down.
“Hello, Yeonhoo-ssi.”
It was Min Jiheon.
The cornerstone of Daepaseong, the golden boy actor.
To the public, he was the brave actor unafraid of typecasting, taking on diverse roles.
But until The Dawn rose, he had carried Daepaseong like a child laborer.
Though his face seemed gentle, his atmosphere was cool. When he smiled, it was like flowers bloomed around him.
‘So Min Jiheon really came.’
Swallowing, Yeonhoo bowed again and sat a little away.
‘...Wait, did he really not hear my first greeting?’
Feeling uneasy, he noticed Jiheon replying half a beat late to staff questions, and brushed his hair back.
‘...Must’ve been my imagination.’
Don’t overreact.
He wished Hi-Five would arrive quickly and fill the awkward air. Just then, the auditorium door opened.
“Hello.”
“Oh.”
Leader Kim Sunghyun came in first, followed by maknae Jung Dajun tripping. Kang Ichae caught his arm, laughing, while Sung Jiwon gently scolded.
“Oh, it’s The Dawn.”
Finally, Seo Hoyun walked in with a fresh smile.
“...Wow, your face looks better, brighter.”
Jiheon’s mutter reached Yeonhoo’s ears.
Hoyun indeed seemed even more radiant than the last time they met.
“Hello, I’m Seo Hoyun.”
Even though everyone here knew him, Hoyun politely gave his full name. After greeting PD Kim Heeyoung, he sat with his members.
Then Jiheon suddenly twisted his torso to face Hoyun.
“Seo Hoyun-ssiii~.”
The blank expression from earlier was gone; now Jiheon wore a mischievous grin.
“Meeting on set again feels so different, huh?”
“Yes, senior. It feels fresh seeing you again too.”
“......”
“Have you been well?”
“...What’s with that tone? Gave me goosebumps. Just call me Pig Jiheon like usual.”
What the hell...
Yeonhoo looked around nervously. Luckily, no mics yet, cameras off, staff too busy to notice.
Just a few words between Jiheon and Hoyun, and already Yeonhoo felt like he’d glimpsed this variety show’s hell episode.
‘...Stay sharp. Be really careful.’
One slip and it’d be a straight ride to ruin.
“When did I ever say that, senior.”
If clips of Hi-Five and The Dawn being overly chummy aired, it’d be trouble. Hoyun surely knew this too.
As Yeonhoo reminded himself to keep distance, Hoyun turned his gaze on him. Those muted pupils made direct contact, and tension rose.
“Yeonhoo-ssi, hello.”
Hiding his discomfort, Yeonhoo smiled faintly.
“Have you been well?”
“...Yeah, I guess.”
‘Huh?’
Hoyun seemed more distant than usual. Still, Yeonhoo pressed on smoothly.
“That’s good. I was worried, seeing how busy you’ve been...”
“Busy?”
“Yes?”
“What’s with your tone.”
The déjà vu slammed into the back of Yeonhoo’s skull as Hoyun’s eyes curved innocently.
“You should call me Hoyun.”
Right then, Kang Yeonhoo wanted to throw filming aside and just go home.
